CUTANEOUS AFFECTIONS SCROFULA. 41 



be so in the former case will be understood, when we 

 remember the dryness of the atmosphere, and the injurious 

 effects of damp upon sufferers from rheumatism. The relief 

 of paralysis is probably due, not only to the improvement of 

 the general health, but to the reduced pressure upon the 

 nervous centres, arising from a light and pure atmosphere. 



The importance of so pure an atmosphere, possessing such 

 physical peculiarities, in diseases of a more general nature, is 

 sufficiently obvious. The unwholesome conditions to which 

 the dwellers in pent-up cities, and unhealthy districts, are 

 habitually exposed, lead to the production of a low tone of 

 the general health, and proclivity to disease, rendering them 

 very susceptible to prevailing epidemic influence. The com- 

 parative freedom from epidemics hitherto enjoyed by the 

 inhabitants of Southport, affords the best illustration of the 

 converse of this truth. 



The climate of this place, in conjunction with sea-water 

 bathing, has a peculiarly beneficial effect in certain forms of 

 cutaneous affections, which are extremely distressing to the 

 patient, and are often among the least satisfactory cases with 

 which the physician has to deal. Among these may be 

 mentioned acne, psoriasis, lepra, and troublesome chronic 

 eczema. The capillary vessels partake of the improved tone 

 communicated to the system at large, while the sub-acute 

 inflammation of the skin is at once soothed and subdued 

 by the application of the sea-water. 



In the large variety of diseases comprised under the 

 general term of scrofula, a lengthened residence by the sea- 

 side is acknowledged to be by far the most important means 

 of cure. The number of young children with feeble, ricketty 



